The Assemble of Goddes by John Lydgate

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Title: The Assemble of Goddes

Author: Anonymous

Release Date: February 21, 2007 [EBook #20642]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

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Transcriber's note: Until recently this work was attributed to John Lydgate, but
now most scholars consider that the author is unknown. The first mention of
Lydgate's authorship of this work was made by Stephen Hawes in 1505 as one of
Lydgate's seven major works. But many scholars have doubted over the years that
this poem was written by Lydgate, because the style used doesn't greatly resemble
the style of Lydgate's other works, and the vocabulary is somewhat more modern
than Lydgate is known to have used. Modern scholars believe that this work was
written between 1478 and 1483 (about forty years after Lydgate's death). Analysis
of style and vocabulary have led scholars to conclude that the author might have
been a woman. For further information about this poem please see The Assembly
of Gods, edited by Jane Chance, published by Medieval Institute Publications,
Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1999, ISBN: 1580440223, which is also available online at
Rochester University.

The book from which this e-book was transcribed is a fascimile reprint of the third
printing of this book, made by Wynkyn de Worde circa 1500. The book was printed
in blackletter font known as Wynkyn de Worde's type 3, and uses many
abbreviations, which I have expanded and rendered in italics. The abbreviations
used in this book are:

,
,
,
,
—Macron over the letter. The most common

one, usually meaning missing "n" or "m" after the letter. But in some cases
might also mean missing "e", "er" or "re" after the letter. This happens
usually when p, q or r have macrons.

—Little e over Middle-English thorn, meaning "the."
—Little t over Middle-English thorn, meaning "that."
—Little u over Middle-English thorn, meaning "thou."
—Little t over w, meaning "with."
—Middle-English yogh, representing "gh."
—Superscripted 9 after letter, meaning missing "us." Used only at the

end of the word.

—Superscripted 2 after letter, meaning missing "e", "er" or "re." Used

only at the end of the word.

—Stretched s, looking like integral sign, meaning missing "e" or "i" before

letter s.

,
,
,
—Dot over the letter, meaning missing "e", "er" or "re"

after the letter. Usually used with d, t, e and u. Combination q+d with dot
means "quod."

,
,
—Strike through letter, meaning missing "e", "er" or "re"

after the letter. Usually used with p, v and s. Striked through p might also
mean missing "ro" or "or" after p.

Occasionally there were some letters printed upside down. I have rendered them
inside brackets, e.g., [x]. The poem uses two types of punctuation--a dot, meaning

longer pause, and a slash, meaning shorter pause or comma. I have corrected
many errors and noted them. Also this printing was missing three lines and one line
had several letters missing from the middle of the line. They are marked and the
correct reading is supplied from the modern edition mentioned above. There were
a couple of places where the word "nota" or "note" was printed, but the actual
notes weren't found in this reprint. There's a fair chance that those notes were
never printed. The original page images are displayed on the left margin and each
links to a larger view.

The assemble of goddes

by

John Lydgate

Printed at Westminster

by Wynkyn de Worde about the year

1500

Cambridge

at the University Press

1906

The work here reprinted formed part of the famous volume of black-letter tracts (formerly marked
AB. 4. 58), which came to the University Library in 1715 by the gift of King George the First with
the rest of the library of John Moore, Bishop of Ely. No other copy of this edition is recorded to
be in existence.

The types used are Caxton's type 3 (for the title) and Wynkyn de Worde's type 3, with final m and
n etc. from type 1 (in the rest of the book). This type 3 is not known to have been used before
1499.

Mr Sayle remarks that the woodcut illustration is taken from Caxton's second edition (ab. 1483-4)
of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

FRANCIS JENKINSON

1906 March 5.

I certify that I have printed 250 copies only of this facsimile, that the impressions have been rubbed
off the plates and the negatives destroyed.

P. DUJARDIN

Here foloweth the Interpretacoin of the names
of goddes and goddesses as is reherced
in this tretyse folowynge as Poetes wryte

¶ Phebus is as moche to saye as the Sonne.
¶ Apollo is the same or elles God of syght.
¶ Morpleus
Shewer of dremis

¶ Pluto
God of hell.

¶ Mynos
Iuge of hell.

¶ Cerberus
Porter of hell.

¶ Colus the wynde or God of the Eyre.
¶ Dyana Goddesse of wode and chase.

¶ Phebe the Mone or Goddesse of waters.
Aurora Goddes of the morow or spryng of the daye
¶ Mars
God of batyll

¶ Iupiter
God of wysdom.

¶ Iuno
Goddesse of rychesse

¶ Saturne
God of colde.

¶ Ceres
Goddesse of corne.

¶ Cupydo
God of loue.

¶ Othea
Goddesse of wysdome.

¶ Fortune
The varyant Goddesse

¶ Pan
God shepherdes.

¶ Isys
Goddesse of frute.

¶ Neptunus
God of the se.

¶ Mynerue
Goddes of the batail or of heruest

¶ Bachus
God of wyne.

¶ Mercuryus
God of langage.

¶ Venus
Goddesse of loue.

¶ Dyscorde
Goddes of debate & stryffe

¶ Attropos
Dethe

¶ Here endeth the interpretacyon of the names
of Goddes & Goddesses as is reherced in the
treatyse folowynge as poetes wryte.

han Phebus the crabbe had nere his cours ronne

And toward the Leon his Iourney gan take
To loke on Pyctagoras spere / I had begonne
¶ Syttyng all solytary allone besyde a lake.
¶ Musyng on a maner how that I myght make.
¶ Reason and sensualyte in one to accorde.
¶ But I coude not bryng about the manacorde.

¶ For longe er I myght slepe me gan oppres
¶ So ponderously I coud make none obstacle
¶ In myne hede was fall suche an heuinesse.
¶ I was fayne to drawe to myne habytacle.
¶ To rowne with a pylow me semyd best tryacle.
¶ So leyde I me downe my dysease to releue.
¶ Anone cam in Morpleus & toke me by the sleue

¶ And as I soo laye halfe in a traunse
¶ Twene slepyng & wakyng he bad me aryse.
¶ For he sayd I must yeue attendaunce.
¶ To the grete Courte of Mynes the Iustyse.
¶ Me nought auayled ayene hym to sylogyse.
¶ For hit is oft sayd by hem that yet lyues.
¶ He must nedes go that the deuell dryues.

¶ Whan I see noo better but I must go.
¶ I sayd I was redy at his commaundement.
¶ Wheder that he wolde me lede to or fro.
¶ Soo vp I arose and forth with hym went.
¶ Tyll he had me brought to the parlament.
¶ Where Pluto sate and kepte is estate.
¶ And with hym Mynos the Iuge desperate.

¶ But as we thyderwarde went by the way.
¶ I hym besought his name me to tell.
¶ Morpleus he sayde thou me call may.
¶ A syr sayde I than where do ye dwell.
¶ In heuen or in erthe eyther elles in hell.
¶ Nay he sayde myn abydyng most commonly
¶ Is in a lytyll corner called fantasy.

¶ And as sone as he thyse wordes had sayd.

¶ Cerberus the porter of hell with his cheyne.
¶ Brought theder Colus in ragges euyll arayd
¶ Agayn whom Neptunus & Dyana dyd compleynt
¶ Saynge thus O Mynos thou Iuge souerayn.
¶ Gyue thy cruel iugement ayen this traytour so
¶ That we may haue cause to preyse thy lord Pluto

¶ Then was there made a proclamacyon.
¶ In Plutoos name commaunded scylence.
¶ Vpon the payn of strayt correccyon.
¶ That Dyana & Neptunus might haue audience.
¶ To declare her grefe of the grete offence.
¶ To hem do by Colus wheron they compleined
¶ And to begyn Dyana was constreyned.

¶ Whyche thus begyn as ye shall here.
¶ Saynge in this wyse. O thou lorde Pluto.
¶ Wyth thy iuge Mynos syttyng with the in fere
¶ Execute your fury vpon Colus soo.
¶ Accordyng to thofence that he to me hath do
¶ That I haue no cause forther to appele.
¶ Whyche yf I do shall not be for youre wele.

¶ Remembre fyrst how I a goddesse pure.
¶ Ouer all desertes / forestes and chaces.
¶ Haue the guydynge and vnder my cure.
¶ This traytour colus hath mani of mi places
¶ Destroyd with his blastes & daily me manaces
¶ Where ony wood is he shall make it playne.
¶ If he to his lyberte may resorte ageyne

¶ The gretest trees that ony man may fynde
¶ In forest to shade the dere for her comforte.
¶ He breketh hem asonder or rendith he rote & rinde
¶ Out of the erthe this is his dysporte.
¶ So that the deere shall haue noo resorte.
¶ Wythin shorte tyme to noo maner shade
¶ Where thorough the game is lykly to fade.

¶ Which to my name a reproche synguler.
¶ Sholde be foreuer whyle the worlde laste.
¶ And to all the goddes an hygh dyspleyser.
¶ To see the game soo destroyed by his blaste.
¶ Wherfore a remedy puruey in haste.
¶ And lete hym be punysshed after his offence.
¶ Cousyder the cryme and yeue your sentence.

¶ And whan Dyana had made her compleynt
¶ To mynos the Iuge in Plutoos presence.
¶ Came forth Neptunus with vysage pale & feynt
¶ Desyrynge of fauour to haue audyence.
¶ Saynge thus Pluto to thy magnyfycence.
¶ I shall reherce what this creature.
¶ Colus hath done me out of mesure.

¶ Thou knowest well that I haue the charge
¶ Ouer all the se and therof god I am.
¶ No shyp may sayl Keruel / bote ne barge.
¶ Grete karyk nor hulke with ony lyuyng man.
¶ But he haue my saue conduyte than.
¶ who me offendith wythin my Iurysdyccyon
¶ Owyth to submyt him to my correccyon.

¶ But in asmoche as it is now soo.
¶ That ye hym here haue as your prysonere
¶ I shall shew my compleynt soo.
¶ wherfore I pray you that ye wyll here.

¶ And let hym not escape out of your daungere.
¶ Tyl he haue made full sethe & recompence
¶ For hurt of my name thrugh his grete offence

¶ Fyrst to begyn this Colus hath ofte.
¶ Made me to retorne mi course agein nature.
¶ wyth his grete blastes whan he hath be alofte
¶ And charged me to labour fer out of mesure
¶ that it was grete merueyl how I might endure
¶ The com of my swete wyll testyfy.
¶ That on the se bankes lye beten full hye.

¶ Secundly where my nature is.
¶ Both to eb & flowe a[n]d so thy course to kepe.
¶ Ofte of myne entent hath he made me mys
¶ where as I shulde haue fylled dykes depe.
¶ At a full water I myght not theder crepe.
¶ Before my season came to returne ageyn.
¶ And than went I faster than i wold certayn

¶ Thus he hath me dryuen ayen myn entente
¶ And contrary to my course naturall.
¶ where I shuld haue be he made me absente
¶ To my grete dyshonour & in especyall.
¶ Do thynge he vsed that worst was of all.
¶ For where I my sauegard graunted
¶ Ay in that coste he comonly haunted

¶ Of very pure malyce and sylfwyll.
¶ Theym to destroy in dyspyte of me.
¶ To whome I promised both in gode & yll.
¶ For to be her protectour in all aduersyte.
¶ That to theym shulde fall vpon the se.
¶ And euen sodenly or they coud beware
¶ wyth a sodeyn pyry he lapped theym in care.

¶ And full oft syth wyth hys boystous blaste.
¶ Or they myght be ware he drof hem on the sond
¶ And other whyle he brake top sayl & maste.
¶ which caused theim to peryssh or thei cam to lond
¶ Then cursed they the tyme that euer thei me fand
¶ Thus amonge the people lost is my name.
¶ And so by his labour put I am to blame.

¶ Consyder this mater and ponder my case.
¶ Tender my compleynt as rygure requyreth
¶ Shew forth youre sentence with a breef clause
¶ I may not longe tary the tyme fast expyreth
¶ The offence is grete wherfore it desyreth.
¶ The more greuous payn and hasty iugement
¶ For offence don wylfully wyl non auysement

And whan the god pluto a whyl had him bethought
¶ He rowned with mynos what was to do.
¶ Then he sayde openly loke thou fayl nought
¶ Thy sentence to yeue wythoute fauoore soo.
¶ Lyke as thou hast herde the causes the too.
¶ And so euenly dele twene thise partyey twein
¶ That none of hem haue case on the other compleint

¶ Thenne sayd mynos full indyfferently.
¶ To Dyana & Neptunus is there ony more.
¶ That ye wyll declare ageyn hym openly.
¶ Nay in dede they sayd we kepe none in store /
¶ we haue sayd Inough to punysshe hym fore
¶ If ye in this mater be not parcyall·
¶ Remembre your name was wont to be egall.

¶ Well than sayd Mynos now let vs see.
¶ what this boystous Colus for hymself cay say
¶ For here Prima facie to vs doth appere.
¶ That he hath offended no man can say naye
¶ wherfore thou Colus wythoute more delaye
¶ Shape vs an answere to thyne accusemente
¶ And elles I must procede vpon thy iugement

¶ And euen as colus was onward to haue said
¶ For his excuse / came in a messengere.
¶ Fro god Appolo to Pluto and hym prayde.
¶ On his behalfe that he wythoute daungere
¶ wolde to hym come & brynge wyth hym in fere
¶ Dyana and Neptunus vnto his banket
¶ And yf they dysdeyned hymself he wold hem fet.

¶ Moreouer he sayde to god Appolo
¶ Desyred to haue respyte of the iugemente
¶ Of Colus bothe of Mynos and Pluto
¶ So Dyana & Neptunus were therwith content
¶ And yf they were dysposed to assente
¶ That he myght come vnto his presente
¶ He it desyred to knowe his offence

¶ What say ye herto sayd Pluto to hem tweyn
¶ wyll ye both assente that it shal be thus
¶ ye sayd the goddesse for my parte certeyne
¶ And I also sayd this Neptunus
¶ I am well plesid quod this Colus
¶ And whan they had a whyle thus togyder spoke
¶ Pluto commaunded the court to be broke

¶ And than togeder went they in fere.
¶ Pluto and Neptunus ledynge the goddesse
¶ whome folowed Cerberus with his prysonere.
¶ And alderlast wyth grete heuynesse.
¶ Came I and Morpleus to the forteresse.
¶ Of the god appolo vnto his banket.
¶ where many goddes and goddesses met.

¶ Whan Appolo se that they were come.
¶ He was ryght glad & prayed theym to syt.
¶ Nay sayd Dyana this is all and some.
¶ ye shall me pardone I shall not syt yet.
¶ I shall fyrste know why Colus abyde.
¶ And what execucyon shall on hym be doo
¶ For his offence / well sayd Appollo.

¶ Madame ye shall haue all your plesere.
¶ Syth that it wyll none otherwyse be.
¶ But fyste I pray you let me the mater here
¶ why he is brought in this perplexyte.
¶ well sayd Pluto that shall ye sone se.
¶ And gan to declare euen by and by.
¶ Bothe theyr complayntes ordynatly.

¶ And whan Appolo had herd the reporte
¶ Of Pluto in a maner smylynge he sayd.
¶ I se well Colus thou hast small comforte.
¶ Thy selfe to excuse thou mayst be dysmayde·
¶ For to here so grete compleyntes ayen the layd
¶ And notwythstondyng if thou can say ought
¶ For thyne own wele say and tary nought

¶ Nota

¶ Forsoth sayd Colus yf I had respyte.

¶ Hereto an answere cowd I counterfete.
¶ But to haue her grace more is my delyte.
¶ wherfore I pray you all for me entrete.
That I may by your request her gode grace gete
¶ And what payn or greef ye for me prouyde
¶ wythout ony grutchyng I shall it abyde.

¶ Lo good dame sayd god Appollo.
¶ what may he do more but sew to your grace.
¶ Beholde how the teres from his eyen goo.
¶ It is satysfaction half for his trespace.
¶ Now gloryous goddes shew your petious face
¶ To this pore prysoner at my request.
¶ All we for youre honour thynke thus is best.

¶ And yf it lyke you to do in thys wyse.
¶ And so to foryeue hym clerely his offence.
¶ One thynge surely I wyll you promyse.
¶ If he ought rebell and make resystence
¶ Or dysobey vnto your sentence.
¶ For euery tree that he maketh fall.
¶ Out of the erthe an /C/ ryse shall.

¶ Soo that youre game shall not dyscrease
¶ For lacke of shade i dare vndertake
¶ well syr Appolo sayd she than wyll I cease
¶ Off all my rancour and mercy with you make
¶ And than god Neptunus of his maner spak
¶ Saying thus appolo though dyana him relese
¶ yet shall he sue to me to haue his pease.

¶ A sayd Appolo ye wende I had forgete.
¶ You for my lady Dyana the goddesse.
¶ Nay thynke not so for I wyll you entrete.
¶ As well as her wythoute longe processe.
¶ wyll ye agre that Phebus your maystresse.
¶ May haue the guydyng of your varyaunce.
¶ I shall abyde quod he / her ordynaunce.

¶ Wel than quod appolo I pray you goddis all
¶ And goddesses that ben here presente.
¶ That ye companable wyll aborde falle.
¶ Nay than sayd Othea it is not conuenyente.
¶ A dew ordre in euery place is expedyente.
¶ To be hadde wherfore ye may not lette.
¶ To be your own marshal at your own banket

¶ And whan appolo se it wolde none other be
¶ He called to hym Aurora the goddesse.
¶ And sayd though ye wepe ye shall before me.
¶ Ay kepe your course and put yourself in presse
¶ Soo he her set fyrste at his owne messe.
¶ wyth her moyst clothes with teres all be spreynt
¶ The medewes in may shew therof her compleint

¶ Next her sat Mars myghty god and strong
¶ wyth a flamme of fyre enuyroned all about
¶ A crown of yron on his hede a spere in his hond
¶ It semed by his chere as he wold haue fought.
¶ And next vnto hym as I perceyue mought.
¶ Sat the goddesse Dyana in a mantell fyne.
¶ Of black sylke purfyled with poudred ermine

¶ Lyke as he had take the mantell & the rynge
¶ And next vnto her arayed roally.
¶ Sat the god Iupyter in his demenynge.
¶ Full sad and wyse he semed sykerly.

¶ A crowne of tynne stood on his hede.
¶ And that I recorde of all phylosophers.
¶ that lytyll store of Coyne kepe in her cofres.

¶ Ioyned to hym in syttyng next there was
¶ The goddesse Iuno full rychely besene.
¶ In a sercote that shone as bryght as glas
Of goldsmyth werk with spangles wrought bedene
¶ Of royall ryches wanted she none I wene.
¶ And next to her sat the god saturne.
¶ That oft syth causeth many one to morne.

¶ But he was clad me thought straungely
¶ For of froste & snowe was all his aray.
¶ In his honde he helde a fawchon all blody
¶ It semed by his chere as he wold make a frai
¶ A baudryck of Isykles about his necke gaye
¶ He had and aboue on hygh on his hede.
¶ Couchid with hayl stones he wered a croun of lede

¶ And nexte in ordre was set by his syde.
¶ Ceres the goddesse in a garmente.
¶ Of sacke cloth made with sleues large & wyde
¶ Embrowdered wyth sheues and sycles bent
¶ Of all maner greynes she sealed the patente.
¶ In token that she was goddes of corne.
¶ Olde Poetes saye she beryth the heruest horn

¶ Then was there set the god cupydo·
¶ All fresshe & galaunte and costly in aray.
¶ Wyth ouches and rynges he was beset so.
¶ the paleys therof shon as though it had be day
¶ A kerchyff of plesauns stood ouer his helm ay
¶ The goddesse Ceres he loked in the face.
¶ And wyth one arme he her dyde enbrace.

¶ Next to Cupido in order by and by
¶ Of wordly wysdum sat the forteresse.
¶ Called Othea chyef grounde of polycy.
¶ Reuler of knyghthode of prudence the goddes
¶ Clad all in purpure was she more & lesse.
¶ Saaf on her hede a crowne there stode.
¶ Couched wyth perles oryent fyne & good.

¶ And nexte to her was god Pluto set
¶ Wyth a derke myste enuyrond al about.
¶ His clothy was made of a smoky net.
¶ His colour was bothe wythin & wythoute.
¶ Foule / derke & dymme his eyen grete & stoute.
¶ Of fyre & sulfure all his odoure wase.
¶ That wo was me whyle I beheld his face

¶ Fortune the goddesse with her perty face.
¶ Was vnto Pluto next in order sette.
¶ Varyant she was ay in shorte space.
¶ Her whele was redy to turne wythout let.
¶ Her gowne was of gawdy grene clamelet.
¶ Chaungeable of sondry dyuerse colours.
¶ To the condycyons accordyng to her shoures

¶ And by her sat thoughe he vnworthy were.
¶ The rewde god Pan of shepherdes that gyde
¶ Clad in russet frese & breched lyke a bere.
¶ Wyth a grete terbox hangyng by his syde.
¶ A shepcrok in his hond he spared for no pryde.
¶ And by his fete lay a prekered curre.
¶ He rateled in the throte as he had the murre.

¶ Isys the goddes bare hym company.
¶ For at the table next she sat by his syde.
¶ In a close kyrtell embrowdered curyously
¶ with braunches and leues brood large & wyde.
¶ Grene as any grasse in the somer tyde.
¶ Of all maner frute she had the gouernaunce
¶ Of fauours odyferous was her sustynauns

¶ Next to her than was god Neptunus set.
¶ He sauoured lyke a fyssher of hym i spak before
¶ It semed by his clothes as they had be wet.
About hym in his gyrdelsted hing fysshes mani a xx
¶ Of his straunge aray merueyled I sore.
¶ A shyp wyth a top and sayle was hys creste.
¶ Me thought he was gayly dysgysed at the fest.

¶ Than toke mynerue the goddes her sete.
¶ Ioyntly to Neptunus all in curas cladde.
¶ Gauntelettis on hondes & sabatouns on her fete
¶ She loked about as though she had be mad.
¶ An hamer and a sythe on her hede she hadde
¶ She wered two bokelers one by her syde.
¶ that other ye wote were this was al her prid

¶ Than cam the god bachus & by her set hym doun
¶ Holdynge in his honde a cuppe full of wyne.
¶ Of grene vyne leues he wered a Ioly croun
¶ He was clad in clustres of grapes gode & fine
¶ A garlonde of yuy he chose for his sygne.
¶ On his hede he had a thredbare kendall hode.
¶ A gymlot and a fauset therupon stode.

¶ Next hym sat phebus wyth her colour pale.
¶ Fat she was of face but of complexon feynte.
She sayd she rewled Neptunus & made hym bayl
¶ And ones in the monthe with phebus was she meint
¶ Also ne were she Ceres were ateynte
¶ Thus she sat & tolde the myght of her nature
¶ & on her hede she wered a croun of siluer pure

¶ Ioyntly to her Marcuryus toke his see.
¶ As came to his cours wytnesse the zodyake.
¶ He had a gylden tonge as fyll for his degree
¶ In eloquence of langage he passed al the pake
¶ For in his talkyng no man coud fynde lake
¶ A box wyth quycksyluer he had in his honde /
¶ Multyplyers know it wel in euery londe

¶ By hym sat dame Venus with colour crystalline
¶ Whos long here shone as wyre of gold bryght
¶ Cryspe was her skyn her eyen columbyne
¶ Rauysshed myne herte her chere was so lyght
¶ Patrones of plesaunce be named wel she myght
¶ A smocke was her wede garnysshed curyusli
¶ But all other she had a wanton eye

¶ On her hede she wered a red coper crowne
¶ A nosegay she had made ful plesauntly
¶ Bytwene her & aurora Apollo set hym doune
¶ Wyth his beames bryght he shone so feruently
¶ That he therwyth gladyd al the company
¶ A crown of pure gold was on his hede set
¶ In syne that he was mayster & lorde of that banket

¶ Nota

¶ Thus was the table set round aboute
¶ Wyth goddes & goddesses as i haue you told

¶ Awaytyng on the bord was a grete route
¶ Of sage phylosophers & poetes many fold
¶ There was sad Sychero & Arystotle olde
¶ Tholome Dorothe wyth Dyogenes
¶ Plato Myssehala and wyse Socrates

¶ Sortes & Saph[y]rus with hermes stode behynd
¶ Auycen & Aueroys wyth hem were in fere
¶ Galyen & ypocras that physyk haue in mynd
¶ wyth help of Esculapyon toward hem drow ner
¶ Vyrgyle Orace Ouyd and Omere
¶ Euclyde and albert yaue her attendaunce
¶ To do the godds & goddesses plesaunce

¶ Horeberded Orpheus was there with his harpe.
¶ And as a poyt musycal made he melody
Other minstral had ther non saf Pan gan to carpe
¶ Of his leud bagpyp which caused the compani
¶ To law yet many mo ther were yf i shuld not ly
¶ Som yong som old both better and werse
¶ But mo of theyr names can I not reherce

¶ Of al maner deyntes there was habundaunce
¶ Of metes & drynkes foyson plenteuous
¶ In cam Dyscord to haue varyaunce
¶ But there was no roum to set her in that hous
¶ The goddis remembred the scysme odious
¶ Among the thre goddesses that she had wrought
¶ At the fest of Peleus wherfore they thought

¶ They wold not with her dele in a venture
¶ Lest she hem brought to som inconuenyente
¶ She seyng this was wroth out of mesure
¶ And in that grete wrath out of the paleyse went
¶ Sayng to herself that chere shuld thei repent
¶ And anone with Attropes happed she to mete.
¶ As he had ben a gost came in a wyndyng shete

¶ She toke hym by the hond & rowned in his ere
¶ And told hym of the banket that was so delycate.
How she was receyued & what chere she had there
¶ And how euery god sat in his astate
¶ Is it thus quod attropos what in the deuyls date
¶ Well he sayd I se well how the game goth
¶ Ones yet for your sake shal I make hem wroth

¶ And whan she had hym al togyder told
¶ From her he departed & of her toke his leue /
¶ Sayng that for her sake his way take he wolde
¶ In to the paleys his maters to meue
¶ And or he thens went he trowed hem to greue.
¶ Wyth such tydynges as he wold hem tel
¶ So forth he went & spake wordes fell

¶ Whan he came in the presence of the goddis [a]lle
¶ As he had ben mad he loked hym a bout
¶ His shete from his body downe he let fall
¶ And on a reud maner he saluted al the route
¶ Wyth a bold voys spekyng wordes stoute
¶ But he spake all holow as it had ben one
¶ Had spoke in a nother world that had wo begon

¶ He stode forth boldly with grym countenaunce
¶ Sayng on this wyse as ye shal here
¶ All ye goddes yeue attendaunce
¶ Vnto my wordes without all daungere
¶ Remembre how ye made me your offycere

¶ Al tho wyth my darte fynally to chastyse
¶ That thou dysobeyed or wolde your law dyspise

¶ And for the more surete seiled my patent
¶ Gyuyng me full power so to ocupy
¶ Wherto I haue enployed myn entent
¶ And that can dame Nature testefy
¶ If she be examyned she wyll not it denye
¶ For whan she forsakyth ony creature
¶ I am al redy to take hym to my cure

¶ Thus haue I deuly wyth al mi dylygence.
¶ Executed the offyce of olde antyquyte
¶ To me by you graunted by your comyn sentece
¶ For I spared none hygh nor low degre
¶ So that on my parte no faute hath be
¶ For as sone as ony to me commytted was
¶ I smote hym to the hert he had none other grace

¶ Ector of Troy for al his cheualry
¶ Alexander the grete & myghty conqueroure
¶ Iulyus Cezar with al his companye
¶ Dauyd nor Iosue nor worthy Artur
¶ Charlis the noble that was so gret of honour
¶ Nor Iudas Machabee for al his trew herte
¶ Nor Godfrey of Boleyn coud me not asterte

¶ Nabugodonozor for al his grete pryde
¶ Nor the kyng of Egypt cruel Pharao
¶ Iason ne Hercules went they neuer so wyde.
¶ Cosdras Hanyball nor gentyll Sypyo·
¶ Cyrus Achylles nor many another mo
¶ For fayr nor foule gat of me no grace
¶ But al be at the last I seased hem with my mace.

¶ Thus haue I brought euery creature
¶ To an ende both man fysshe foule and best
And euery other thyng in whome dame nature
¶ Hath ony Iurysdyccion eyther most or lest
¶ Except oonly one in whome your be hest
¶ Is to me broke for ye me promysed
That my myght of none shold haue be dyspysed

¶ Wherof the contrary daoe I well a uow
¶ Is trew for one there is that wyl not apply
¶ Vnto my correction nor in no wyse bow
¶ To the dynt of my darte for dole nor desteny·
¶ What comfort he hath nor the cause why
¶ That he so rebellyth I can not thynk of ryght
But yf ye hym graunted your alders saf condyght.

¶ And yf he so haue than do ye not as goddis.
¶ For a goddys wrytyng may not reuersed be.
¶ Yf it shold I wold not gyue you ii pesecoddis
¶ For graunt of your patent of offyce nere of fee.
¶ Wherefore in this mater do me equyte
¶ Accerding to my patent for tyl this be do
¶ Ye haue no more my seruyse nor my gode wyl

¶ And whan al the goddis had attropos hered
¶ As they had ben wode brayd vp attones
¶ & sayd they wold not rest tyll he were conquered
¶ Taken and dystroyed body blode and bones
¶ And that they swere grete othes for the nonis
¶ Her lav to dyspyce that was so malapert
¶ They sayd he shuld be taught for to be so pert

¶ Wel sayd Appollo yf he on erth be
¶ wyth my brennyng chare I shall hym confound
¶ In feyth quod neptunus & he kepe these
¶ He may be well sure he shall be drownd
¶ A syr sayd Mars this haue we wel found
¶ That ony dysubeyed oure goodly precept
¶ We may well thynk we haue to long slept

¶ But neuertheles where I may hym fynd
¶ wyth thunder & lyghtning about I shall hym chase
¶ And I quod Saturnus before and behynd.
¶ with my bytte cold shall shew hym harde grace
¶ well sayd Mercuryus yf I may se his face.
¶ For euer of his spech I shall hym depryue
¶ So that hym were better dede than alyue

¶ Ye quod Othea yet may he well be
¶ In the eyr where he wyll & ax you no leue
¶ wherfore my counseyl is that all we
¶ May entrete Neptunus his rancour foryeue.
¶ And than I dout not Colus wyl hym myscheue
¶ So may ye be sure he soal you not escape
¶ & ellis of you anger he wyll make but a iape.

¶ But for to tel you how Colus was brought.
¶ In daungere of Pluto yet had I forget
¶ wherfore on this mater forther wyl I nought.
¶ Procede tyll I therof haue knowlege you let
¶ It befell on a day the weder was wete
¶ And Colus thought he wold on his dysport.
¶ Goo t[u] reioyse his spyrytis and comforte

¶ He thought he wold se what was in the ground
¶ And in a krauers forth he gan hym dresse
¶ A drough had the erthe late before found.
¶ That caused it to chyne & krauy more & lesse /
¶ Sodenly by wete constreyned by duresse
¶ Was the ground to close his superfycyall face.
¶ So streyt that to scape colus had noo space

¶ This seyng Colus be styll wythin abode.
¶ Sekyng where he myght haue gene fer or nere.
¶ A[n]one he was espyed and one to Pluto rode
¶ And told hym how Colus was in his daungere.
¶ Than sayd he to Cerberus fet me that prysonere /
¶ Tyl I haue hym sene let hym not go at large /
¶ As the wylt answere of hem I yeue the charge

¶ Thus was this Colus take prysonere
¶ Than happed it so that the sa[m]e day
¶ Pluto had prefyxed for a grete mater
¶ Mynos to syt in his robe of Ray
¶ Wherfore Cerberus toke the next way
¶ And led hym to the place where the court shalbe
¶ where I told you Morpleus brought me

¶ So thyder c[a]me Dya[n]a caryed in carre
¶ To make her compleynt as I told you all
¶ And so dyd Neptunus that doth make and mar
¶ Walewyng with his wawys & tomblyng as a ball
¶ Her matters they meued fal what may befall
¶ There was the fyrst syght that euer I them saw
¶ And yf I neuer do eft I care not a straw

¶ But now to my matter retourne agayn
¶ And tu begyn new where I left.
¶ whan al the goddis had done her besy payne.

¶ The way to contryue how it shuld be reft
¶ Of his lyf Attropos had no cause eft
¶ To compleyn than Phebus stert vpon her fete /
¶ And sayd I pray you let me speke a word yet

¶ Othea menyth wel to say on this wyse
¶ But al to entret Neptunus i hope shal not nede
¶ Me semyth I alone durst take that entesprise.
¶ Er I am begyled or ellis I shal spede
¶ How say ye Neptunus shal I do this dede.
¶ Wy[l] ye your rancour seale at my request
¶ Madame quod he reule me as ye lykyth best

¶ Gr[a]mercy sayd she of your good wyll
¶ That it pleysyth you to shew me that fauorus
¶ Wherfore the goddys hygh pleysur to fulfyll
¶ Performe my desyre & leue al olde rancoure
¶ For our elders wele & sauyng of oure honour
¶ Agayn this colus that ye long haue had
¶ It is done quod he forsoth than am I gladd

¶ Sayd he now than Colus be thou to vs trewe
¶ Kepe well the eyr and oure grete rebell
¶ May we than sone euer to vs subdew
¶ Yes and that quod Colus shall here tell
¶ Nowhere in the eyr shall he rest nor dwel
¶ If he do therof put me in the faute
¶ Wyth my bytter blastes so shal I hym asaut

¶ What sayd the god Pluto what is his name.
¶ That thus presumyth agayn vs to rebell
¶ Vertu quod attropes that haue he mykyl shame
¶ He is neuer confounded thus of hym here I tell
¶ A sayd this pluto in dede I know hym wel
¶ He hath ben euer myn vtter ennemye
¶ Wherfore this mater agayn hym take wyll I

¶ For all the baytes that we for hym haue layde
¶ Wythout my helpe be not worth a pere
¶ For though ye all the contrary had sayd
¶ yet wold he brede right nigh your althris ere
¶ No maner of thynge can hym hurt or dere
¶ Saue only a sone of my bastard
¶ Whos name is vice he kepyth my vawarad.

¶ Wherfore you Cerberus now I the charge
¶ Of Colus & wyl that thou heder fet
¶ My dere sone Vyce & say that I hym charge.
¶ That he to me come without ony let
¶ Armed at all poyntes for a day is set
¶ That he with Vertu for al the goddis sake
¶ In our defence must on hym batayl take.

¶ Forth then went Cerberus with his fyry chein
¶ Brought thyder vyce as he commaunded was
¶ Agayn noble Vertu that batayl to dercygne
¶ On a glydyng serpent rydynge a grete pace
¶ Formed lyke a dragon scaled hard as glas
¶ whoos mouth flammed fyre without fayll
¶ wyngis had it serpentyne & a long tayll

¶ Armed was vyce all in cure boyll
¶ Harde as horne blacker fer than sute
¶ An vngoodly sort folowed hym perde
¶ Of vnhappy capteyns of myschyfe crop & rot
¶ Pryde was the fyrst that next hym rode god wote
¶ On a roryng Lyon next whome came Enuye

¶ Syttyng on wolfe he had a scornful eye

¶ Wrath bestrode a wyld bore & next hym gan ride.
¶ In his hond he bare a blody swerd
¶ Next whom cam couetise that goth so fer & wide
¶ Rydyng on a Olyfaunt as he had ben a ferd
¶ After whom rode Gloteny wyth his fat berd
¶ Syttyng on a bere wyth his grete bely
¶ And next hym on a gote folowed Lechery

¶ Sloth was so slepy he came all behynd
¶ On a dull asse a full wery pase
¶ Thyse were the capteins that vyce coud fynde
¶ Best to set his feld & folow on the chase
¶ As for pety capteyns many mo there was
¶ As sacrylege symony & dyssymulacyon
¶ Manslaughter mordre theft & extorcyon

¶ Arrogaunce Presumpcyon wyth contumaci
¶ Contempcyon Contempt & Inobedyence
¶ Maly[s]e Frowardnes grete Ielasy
¶ wodnes Hate Stryf and Impacyence
¶ Vnkyndnes Oppressyon with wofull neglygence.
¶ Murmur Myschef Falshod & detraccyon
¶ Vsury Periury Ly and adulacyon

¶ Wrong Rauyne Sturdy vyolence
¶ Fals Iugement with Obstynacyon
¶ Dysceyt Dronknes & Improuydence.
¶ Boldnes in yll with foule and Rybaudy.
¶ Fornycacyon Incest and Auoutry
¶ Vnshamfastnes with Prodygalyte
¶ Blasfeme vaynglory & worldly vanyte

¶ Ignoraunce Dyffydence with Ipocrysy
¶ Scysme Rancour Debate and Offence
¶ Heresy Errour with Idolatry.
¶ New fangylnes and sotyll false Pretence
¶ Inordynat desyre of worldly excellence
¶ Fayned pouerte wyth apostasy
¶ Dysclaunder scorn & vnkynd Ielousy

¶ Hoordom baudry false mayntenaunce
¶ Treyson abusyon and pety brybry
¶ Vsurpacyon with horryble vengaunce
¶ Came alder last of that company
¶ All thyse pety capetayns folowed by and by.
¶ Shewyng theymself in the paleyse wyde
¶ And say they were redy that batayl to abyde

¶ Idylnes set the comyns in aray
¶ Without the palayse on a fayr felde
¶ But there was an ost for to make a fray
¶ I trow suche a nother neuer man beheld
¶ Many was the wepyn among hem that they weld
¶ What they were that came to that dysporte
¶ I shall you declare of many a sondry sort

¶ There were bosters crakers & brybours
¶ Praters sasers strechers and wrythers
¶ Shamefull shakelers soleyn slauedours
¶ Oppressours of people and myghty crakers
¶ Mayntenours of quarels horryble lyers
¶ Theues traytours with false heretykes
¶ Charmars sorcerers & many scysmatykes.

¶ Preuy symonyakes wyth false vsurers

¶ Multyplyers coyn wasshers & clyppers
¶ Wrong vsurpers wyth grete extorcyoners
¶ Bacbyters Glosers and fayre flaterers.
¶ Malycyous murmurers with grete claterers
¶ Tregetours Tryfelers Feyners of tales·
¶ Lastyuous lurdeyns and Pykers of malys.

¶ Rouners Vagabundes Forgers & lesingis.
¶ Robbers Reuers Rauenous Ryfelers.
¶ Choppers of Chyrches Fynders of tydynges
¶ Merrers of maters and mony makers.
¶ Stalkers by nyght wyth Euysdroppers.
¶ Fyghters Brawlers Brekers of louedayes
¶ Getters Chyders Causers of frayes.

¶ Tytyuyllis Tyrauntis with Tourmentours.
¶ Corsyd apostatis Relygyous dyssymulers:
¶ Closshers Carders wyth comon hasardours.
¶ Tyburne colops and Purskytters.
¶ Pylary knyghtys double tollyng Myllers.
¶ Gay Ioly tapters with hostelers of the stewes.
¶ Hores and Bawdes that many bale brewes

¶ Bold blasfemers wyth false Ipocrytes.
¶ Brothellers Brokers abhomynable swerers.
¶ Dryuylls Dastardes dyspysers of ryghtis
¶ Homycydes Poyseners & comon morderers
¶ Scoldis Caytyues Comberous clappers.
¶ Idolatres Enchauntors with false regenates.
¶ Sotyl ambydextrys and sekeers of debatis.

¶ Pseudo Prophetes false Sodemytes.
¶ Quesmers of chyldren wyth fornycatours.
¶ wetewoldes that suffre syn in their syghtis.
¶ Auoutrers and abhomynable auauntours.
¶ Of syn grete clappers & makers of clamours
¶ Vnthryftes & vnlustes came al to that game
¶ with luskis & loselis that might not thryue for shame

¶ These were the comons that came thider that day.
¶ Redy bowne in batayl Vertu to abyde.
¶ Apollo theym beholdyng began to say·
¶ To the goddys & goddesses beyng there that tide
¶ Me semyth conuenyent an herowd to ryde
¶ To Vertu & byde hym to batayl make hym boune
¶ Hymself to defend forsoth it shal be sone.

¶ And let hym not be sodeynly take.
¶ All dyspur[u]eyed or that he beware.
¶ For than shold our dyshonour awake.
¶ If he were cowardly take in a snare.
¶ Ee quod Vyce for that haue I no care.
¶ I wyll auauntage take where I may.
¶ That heryng Morpleus preuely stale away.

¶ And went to warne Vertu of al this afray.
¶ And bad hym awake and make hymself strong
¶ For he was lyke to endure that daye.
¶ A grete mortall shoure er it were euensonge.
¶ with Vyce wherfore he bad hym not longe.
¶ Tary to send after more socoure.
¶ If he dyde it shold torne hym to dolour.

¶ And brefely the mater to he declared.
¶ Lyke as ye haue herd begynnyng and ende.
¶ Well quod Vertu he shall not be spared
¶ To the feld I wyl go how it wende.